Hydraulic steering-gear



[No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. C. E. BERGMAN.

HYDRAULIC STEERING GEAR.

No. 553,150. Patented Jan. 14,1896,

ANDREW E GRAHAM. PNVTO-LITHQWASHINGTON. D C

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

o. E. BERGM AN. HYDRAULIC STEERING GEAR.

Iva 553,150. Patented Jan. 14, 1896.

ANDREW EGRANAM. PHOTO-UTHU.WASHIN5TDN.O.C.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. BERGMAN, OF EVERETT, WASHINGTON.

HYDRAULIC STEERING- GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,150, dated January14, 1896.

I Application filed April 22, 1895. Serial No. 546,755. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BERGMAN, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of Vashington,have invented a new and useful Hydraulic Steering-Gear, of which thefollowing is a specification.

' tion, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a steam-launch,showing the steering mechanism embodying my invention applied thereto inthe operative position, said view indicating the run of the conductorsor con nections whereby the fluid employed to communicate motion to therudder is conveyed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the mechanismenlarged. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the quadrant-cylinder with thecap-plate omitted. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of thequadrant-cylinder.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor responding parts in all thefigures of the drawmgs.

1 designates the rudder-shaft or spindle which is mounted in bearingsformed in the upper and lower sides of a'quadrant-cylinder 2, said shaftor spindle extending above and below the top and bottom of the cylinderto fit in suitable stuffing-boxes to prevent leakage of the contents ofthe cylinder. The rudder-blade 3 is secured to the lower end of thisshaft or spindle and the upper end thereof is squared, as shown at 4,for engagement bya tiller lover or handle whereby the rudder may beoperated directly in caseof injury to or disarrangementof the steeringmechanism,hereinafter described.

Secured to the shaft or spindle and operatin g in the cylinder is therotary or wing piston A 5,which is adapted tobe moved around the axis ofthe spindle as a center by excess of fluidpressure upon one side or theother, the pressure being communicated to the quadrantcylinder by meansof pipes or conductors 6 and 7, which tap the cylinder at its oppositesides,or upon opposite sides of the plane of the piston. Said conductorsor pipes are in communication with a cylinder 8 at the opposite ends,respectively, thereof, and the sliding or reciprocating piston 9, whichis arranged in said cylinder, may be moved in either direction toincrease the pressure in the quadrant cylinder at one side of the pistonand decrease it at the other side.

The conductors or pipes 6 and 7 are provided at points adjacent to thecylinder 8, which I will term the pressure-cylinder for convenience indescription, with valves 10 and 11, to the stems of which are connectedlevers 12 and 13, and the extremities of these levers are pivotallyconnected to a rod 14, which is in turn connected to a foot-lever 15.,This foot-lever preferably extends to a point within reach of the pilotor steersman, and may terminate, as indicated in the drawings, in afoot-plate 16 contiguous to the steeringwheels. Pressure exerted uponthis footplate closes the valves 10 and 11 and thereby cuts offcommunication between the pressureoylinder and the quadrant-cylinder toprovide for equalizing the amount of fluid upon opposite sides of thesliding piston when, by reason of leakage or otherwise, the amount uponopposite sides thereof is unequal. Communication between the oppositeends of the cylinder is established by means of, supplypipes 17 and 18,which communicate at their upper ends with a supply-tank: adapted forcontaining water when this fluid is employed in the operation of theapparatus, said pipes terminating in safety-valves 19, whereby excessivepressure in the pressure-cylinder may be relieved, but exhaust underordinarypressure is prevented. Inlet check-valves 20 and 21 are arrangedat the upper ends of the supply-pipes to allow the fluid in the tank toflow into the pressure-cylinder, but prevent the outflow of fluidtherethrough, and by turning the valve 22, which is arranged in a branchconnecting-pipe 23 connecting the supply-pipes 17 and 18, the movementof the piston 9 will cause the fluid in front of the piston to passthrough the supply-pipes and the branch pipe and pass to the oppositeside or to the rear of the piston.

The quadrant-cylinder is swiveled upon the rudder shaft or spindle as acenter and is capable of a partial rotation around the same to enablethe parts to yield when the rudder receives an excessive strain, as bybeing struck by a cross wave, and in order to provide for maintainingthe cylinder normally in its proper position I employ cushion-springs 24and 25, connected at their inner ends to a projection 26 at the centerof the front side of the cylinder and at their outerends to fixedtimbers of the vessel. The cylinder is also provided with ears 27 whichare slotted parallel with the curved or segmental side of the cylinder,the slots being engaged by guidebolts 28, whereby the cylinder is heldin place while allowed to yield laterally a sufficient distance to avoidoverstraining the parts of the mechanism.

The piston 5 is provided at its edges or points of contact with theinterior surface of the cylinder with suitable packing to preventleakage; and in order to allow fluid to pass over from one side of thepiston to the other to equalize the amounts upon the opposite sides ofthe same, I employ a connecting-tube 29 communicating at itsextremities, respectively, with the cylinder at opposite sides of theplane of the piston, and provided at an intermediate point with acontrolling valve 30. During the operation of the mechanism this valveis-kept closed, whereby Water or other fluid which escapes from thequadrantcylinder in front of the moving piston passes through one of theconductors or pipes to the pressure-cylinder in rear of the piston 9,and the fluid expelled from the pressure-cylinder in front of its pistonpasses through the other conductor or pipe to exert pressure upon therear side of the piston in the quadrant-cylinder..

Connected to the rod 31 of the piston 9, and

operating in a suitable steam-cylinder 32 is a piston 33, by whichmotion may be communicated to the piston 9 to operate the rudder. Inconnection with the steam-cylinder is a valve-chest 34 inclosing aslide-valve 35,which operatesupon a valve-seat 36 to control the ports37 and 3S communicating, respectively, with opposite ends of thesteam-cylinder, or communicating therewith upon opposite sides of theplane of the piston 33. The auxiliary slide-valve 39 is mounted upon themain slidevalve 35 to control the ports 40 and 41 in the latter, thestem 42 of this auxiliary valve being connected to a lever 43, which isin turn connected to the piston-rod 31, whereby the motion of thepiston-rod controls the auxiliary valve. The main valve 35 is operatedby means of a hand-wheel 44 through a shaft 45, intermeshing gears 46and 47, a spindle 48, a pinion 49 carried by said spindle, and a rackwith which said pinion meshes on the stem of the main valve, and theauxiliary valve, which operates as an automatic cut-01f and is connectedwith the piston-rod, allows the piston in the steam-cylinder to move inproportion as the pilot-wheel 44 is moved.

In addition to the above-described mechanism I employ a secondhand-wheel 50,which is connected by means of intermeshing beveled gears51 and 52 with a shaft 53 having a pinion 54 to engage a rack 55 on thepistonrod 31. Thus, when the steam-operating mechanism is out of order,or it is desirable to dispense with this means of steering, thehand-wheel 50 may be operated to communicate motion directly to thepiston of the pressure-cylinder.

From the above description it will be seen that the construction of thesteering mechanism is simple and that it occupies a minimum amount ofspace; that the operationis positive and noiseless; that the use ofropes, chains, blocks, pulleys, and similar means is avoided, wherebythe mechanism can be arranged in place without the risk of displacementor dismounting of any of its members at critical moments of its use, andthat in case of fire the mechanism remains uninjured, inasmuch as theuse of tackle and various forms of combustible connections are avoided.Furthermore, by reason of the conductors or pipes for communicating thepressure from the pressure-cylinder to the quadrant-cylinder, themanually-operated parts of the mechanism may be placed in any desiredpart of the vessel, and the pipes may be run in such directions andcarried through such parts of the vessel as will avoid the taking up ofvaluable space.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination witha rudder shaft or spindle, of a cylinder, a piston operating in thecylinder and positively secured to the rudder shaft or spindle,resilient devices for maintaining the cylinder in its normal positionand adapted to yield when the rudder shaft or spindle is strainedtorsionally, and means for varying the pressure upon opposite sides ofthe plane of the piston to communicate motion to the rudder shaft,substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a rudder shaft or spindle, of a quadrantcylinder swiveled concentric with the shaft or spindle, a piston rigidlysecured to the shaft or spindle and operating in the cylinder, resilientdevices for maintaining the cylinder in its normal position, and meansfor varying the pressure upon the-.opposite sides of the plane of thepiston to communicate motion thereto, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a rudder shaft or spindle, of a quadrantcylinder swiveled concentric with the shaft or spindle, a piston securedto the shaft or spindle and operating in the cylinder, cushion-springsconnected to the cylinder to allow a swinging movement of the cylinderaround the shaft or spindle as a center, means for guiding the cylinder,and operating connections whereby the pressure upon opposite sides ofthe plane of the piston may be varied to impart motion to the piston,substantially as specified.

4E. The combination with a rudder shaft or spindle, of a quadrantcylinder, a piston secured to the shaft or spindle and operating in thecylinder, means for varying the pressure upon opposite sides of theplane of the piston to impart motion thereto, and a valved conductorcommunicating at its opposite ends with the cylinder upon opposite sidesof the plane of the piston, whereby the fluid upon opposite sides of thepiston may be equalized, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a rudder shaft or spindle, of a cylinder, apiston secured to the shaft or spindle and operating in the cylinder, asecond or pressure cylinder having a reciprocating piston, connectionsbetween opposite ends of the cylinders, valves for controlling thepassage of fluid through said connections, means for imparting motion tothe piston of the pressure cylinder, and valved connecting pipes betweenthe extremities of the pressure cylinder to provide for the equalizationof the fluid upon opposite sides of the piston, substantially asspecified.

6. The combination with a rudder shaft or spindle, of a cylinder, apiston secured to the shaft or spindle and operating in the cylinder, asecond or pressure cylinder communicating at its opposite ends with thefirst-named cylinder upon opposite sides of the plane of its piston, atank, supply-pipes connecting the tank with opposite ends of thepressure cylinder and provided within the tank with safety valves andwith inlet check-valves, a valved branch pipe connecting thesupply-pipes, and means for imparting motion to the piston of thepressure cylinder, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with a rudder shaft or spindle, a cylinder, a pistonsecured to the shaft or spindle and operating in the cylinder, a secondor pressure cylinder communicating with the first-named cylinder and areciprocatory piston operating in the pressure cylinder, of a pistonsecured to the rod of the piston in the pressure cylinder and operatingin the steam cylinder, a main valve controlling the ports communicatingwith the steam cylinder, and means for imparting motion to the saidvalve to admit steam to either side of the piston in the steam cylinder,substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a rudder shaft or spindle, a cylinder, a pistonsecured to the shaft or spindle and operating in the cylinder, a secondor pressure cylinder communicating with the first-named cylinder and areciprocatory piston operating in the pressure cylinder, of a pistoncarried by the rod of the piston in the pressure cylinder and fitting ina steam cylinder, a main valve controlling the ports communicating withthe steam cylinder, a cut-off mounted upon the main valve, c011-neotions between the cut-off and the pistonrod, and means for impartingpositive motion to the main valve, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. BERGMAN.

Witnesses:

'TM. G. SWALWELL, GEo, J. SHERRY.

